Modular Optical Fiber Network Interface

Abstract

An optical fiber network may be provided in a building or set of buildings that can be used with any type of services, regardless of whether those services are provided as electrical signals or as optical signals. To accomplish this, a service aggregation gateway may be provided that receives electrical and/or optical service signals and converts the incoming electrical signals to optical signals. Also, a way for conventional electronic devices in the building to communicate with the optical fiber network is provided. In addition, units for allowing such communication between electronic devices and the optical network may be modularized such that they are interchangeable. In addition, keyed optical fiber ferrule/connector pairs are described.

1 . An optical distribution system, comprising:
 a first unit having:
 a first optical connector, and 
 a second optical connector in optical communication with the first optical connector; and 
   a second unit removably pluggable to the first unit and having:
 a third optical connector configured to optically mate with the second optical connector in response to plugging the second unit to the first unit, 
 a first converter configured to convert an optical signal received via the first, second, and third optical connectors into a first electrical signal, and 
 a first electrical connector configured to transfer the first electrical signal. 
   
   
   
       2 . The optical distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first unit further includes a second electrical connector, and a third electrical connector in electrical communication with the second electrical connector,   the second unit further includes a fourth electrical connector configured to electrically mate with the third electrical connector in response to plugging the second unit to the first unit, and   the first converter is configured to be electrically powered by electricity provided from the fourth electrical connector.   
   
   
       3 . The optical distribution system of  claim 1 , further including:
 a third unit removably pluggable to the first unit and having:
 a fourth optical connector configured to optically mate with the second optical connector in response to plugging the third unit to the first unit, 
 a second converter configured to convert an optical signal received from the first, second, and fourth optical connectors into a second electrical signal, and 
 a second electrical connector configured to transfer the second electrical signal. 
   
   
   
       4 . The optical distribution system of  claim 3 , wherein the second and third units each have a surface that mates with a surface of the first unit, and wherein the third and fourth optical connectors are each at a same location of the respective surfaces of the second and third units. 
   
   
       5 . The optical distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the first unit is sized to fit completely within a standard electrical outlet box. 
   
   
       6 . The optical distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connector has a plurality of electrically separated conductors, and wherein the converter is configured to divide the electrical signal among the plurality of conductors. 
   
   
       7 . The optical distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the second unit is configured to physically fit at least partially within the first unit when the second unit is plugged to the first unit. 
   
   
       8 . The optical distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connector is a telephone jack. 
   
   
       9 . The optical distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connector is a coaxial cable connector. 
   
   
       10 . An optical distribution system, wherein the optical distribution system is for use with a building having a plurality of habitable rooms each having a wall, the system comprising:
 an optical network; and   for each of the plurality of rooms:
 an optical fiber of the optical network running within the wall, 
 a first unit disposed completely within one of the walls and configured to receive an optical signal transferred by the optical fiber, and 
 a second unit removably pluggable to the first unit, wherein the second unit is configured to receive the optical signal in response to plugging the second unit to the first unit, and wherein the second unit has a converter configured to convert the optical signal to an electrical signal, and an electrical connector configured to receive the electrical signal. 
   
   
   
       11 . The optical distribution system of  claim 10 , wherein when the second unit is plugged to the first unit, the second unit is disposed at least partially within the wall. 
   
   
       12 . The optical distribution system of  claim 10 , wherein when the second unit is plugged to the first unit, the electrical connector is configured to be accessible from the room. 
   
   
       13 . The optical distribution system of  claim 10 , wherein the electrical connector is a telephone jack. 
   
   
       14 . The optical distribution system of  claim 10 , wherein the electrical connector is a coaxial cable connector. 
   
   
       15 . The optical distribution system of  claim 10 , further including an electrical outlet box disposed completely within the wall, wherein the first unit is disposed completely within the electrical outlet box, and wherein the optical fiber extends into the electrical outlet box. 
   
   
       16 . An optical distribution system, comprising:
 a first unit having:
 a first optical connector, 
 a first converter configured to convert an optical signal received via the first optical connector into a first electrical signal, and 
 a first electrical connector configured to transfer the first electrical signal; and 
   a second unit having:
 a second optical connector, 
 a second converter configured to convert an optical signal received via the second optical connector into a second electrical signal, and 
 a second electrical connector configured to transfer the second electrical signal, 
   wherein the first and second optical connectors are each disposed at a same location on a first side of the respective first and second units, and wherein the first and second electrical connectors are different types of electrical connectors.   
   
   
       17 . The optical distribution system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first unit has a first housing, the first optical connector and the first electrical connector being at opposing sides of the first housing, and   the second unit has a second housing, the second optical connector and the second electrical connector being at opposing sides of the second housing.   
   
   
       18 . An optical distribution system, comprising:
 a universal outlet frame configured to receive an optical signal and electrical power; and   a plurality of wall modules each configured to plug into the universal outlet frame and to receive the optical signal and the electrical power when the wall module is plugged into the universal outlet frame, each wall module being configured to convert the optical signal to an electrical signal and output the electrical signal to an electrical connector, wherein the electrical connector is a different type of electrical connector for each of the wall modules.   
   
   
       19 . An optical distribution system, comprising:
 an optical receiver configured to receive an optical signal;   a converter configured to simultaneously convert the optical signal to all three of an electrical Ethernet signal, a POTS electrical telephone signal, and an electrical television signal.   
   
   
       20 . The optical distribution system of  claim 19 , wherein the converter includes a demultiplexer configured to extract from the optical signal an Ethernet portion of the optical signal, a telephone portion of the optical signal, and a television portion of the optical signal.